Butterflies for 2004
(Dates correspond to the first sighting of each species. Species in ordinary type were seen locally. Species in bold type were seen in the areas stated.)
Click here for 2003 list.
4/2 Comma (Polygonum c-album)
3/3 Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
3/3 Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
14/3 Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)
17/3 Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
17/3 Green-veined White (Artogeia napi)
17/3 Large White (Pieris brassicae)
18/3 Peacock (Inachis io)
18/3 Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)
28/3 Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
28/3 Orange Tip (Anthocaris cardamines)
28/3 Small White (Artogeia rapae)
28/3 Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
5/4 Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
11/4 Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli) - Bouches-du-Rhône (13)
11/4 Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis)
11/4 Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera)
12/4 Baton Blue (Pseudophilotes baton)
12/4 Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri)
13/4 Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea)
21/4 Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)
21/4 Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae)
21/4 Violet Fritillary (Clossiana dia)
25/4 Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) - Drôme (26)
25/4 Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)
25/4 Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)
25/4 Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)
25/4 Pale Clouded Yellow (Colias hyale)
25/4 Wood White (Leptidea sinapis)
25/4 Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus)
25/4 Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)
25/4 Black-eyed Blue (Glaucopsyche melanops)
25/4 Green-underside Blue (Glaucopsyche alexis)
25/4 Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros)
25/4 Bath White (Pontia daplidice)
5/5 Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)
10/5 Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia)
12/5 Map (Araschnia levana)
13/5 Chequered Blue (Scolitantides orion)
15/5 Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe)
16/5 Red Underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius)
21/5 Southern Small White (Artogeia mannii)
24/5 Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi)
24/5 Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta)
24/5 Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)
24/5 Camberwell Beauty (Nymphalis antiopa)
24/5 Large Skipper (Ochlodes venatus)
24/5 Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea didyma)
26/5 Chapman's Blue (Agrodiaetus thersites)
26/5 Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus)
26/5 Oberthür's Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus armoricanus)
26/5 Meadow Fritillary (Mellicta parthenoides)
29/5 Small Blue (Cupido minimus) - Savoie (73)
30/5 Woodland Ringlet (Erebia medusa)
2/6 Heath Fritillary (Mellicta athalia)
2/6 Provençal Short-tailed Blue (Everes alcetas)
6/6 Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Clossiana euphrosyne) - Côte-d'Or (21)
6/6 Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina)
6/6 False Heath Fritillary (Melitaea diamina)
6/6 Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania)
6/6 Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus)
6/6 Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia)
6/6 Scarce Fritillary (Hypodryas maturna)
9/6 Chequered Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon) - Jura (39)
9/6 Chestnut Heath (Coenonympha glycerion)
10/6 Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)
10/6 Black Hairstreak (Satyrium pruni)
10/6 Large Copper (Lycaena dispar)
13/6 Sloe Hairstreak (Satyrium acaciae)
13/6 Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)
14/6 Piedmont Ringlet (Erebia meolans)
15/6 Idas Blue (Plebejus idas)
16/6 Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)
21/6 Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)
24/6 Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium ilicis)
24/6 Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
24/6 Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne)
24/6 White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)
24/6 Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon)
30/6 Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)
3/7 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Clossiana selene)
4/7 Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia) - Ain (01)
4/7 Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino)
4/7 Purple Hairstreak (Quercusia quercus)
10/7 Large Blue (Maculinea arion)
17/7 Great Banded Grayling (Kanetisa circe) - Hérault (34)
17/7 Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja) - Spanish Pyrenees
18/7 Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera)
18/7 Apollo (Parnassius apollo)
18/7 Great Sooty Satyr (Satyrus ferula)
18/7 Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae)
18/7 Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe)
18/7 Mountain Argus (Aricia artaxerxes)
18/7 Escher's Blue (Agrodiaetus escheri)
18/7 Amanda's Blue (Agrodiaetus amandus)
18/7 Provence Orange Tip (Anthocaris euphenoides)
18/7 Yellow-spotted Ringlet (Erebia manto constans)
18/7 Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron)
18/7 Niobe Fritillary (Argynnis niobe)
18/7 Spanish Brassy Ringlet (Erebia hispania)
18/7 Geranium Argus (Eumedonia eumedon)
18/7 Large Ringlet (Erebia euryale)
19/7 Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus)
19/7 Purple Emperor (Apatura iris)
19/7 Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra coridon)
19/7 Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus lavatherae)
19/7 Large Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus alveus centralhispaniae)
19/7 Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus)
20/7 Eros Blue (Polyommatus eros)
20/7 Olive Skipper (Pyrgus serratulae) ......................or is it something else???
20/7 Mountain Clouded Yellow (Colias phicomone)
20/7 Turquoise Blue (Plebicula dorylas)
20/7 Mountain Ringlet (Erebia epiphron)
20/7 Provençal Fritillary (Mellicta deione)
21/7 High Brown Fritillary (Argynnis adippe)
21/7 Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus)
21/7 Tufted Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus flocciferus)
21/7 Bright-eyed Ringlet (Erebia oeme)
21/7 De Prunner's Ringlet (Erebia triaria)
21/7 Lefèbvre's Ringlet (Erebia lefebvrei)
22/7 Woodland Grayling (Hipparchia fagi)
22/7 Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia) - Hérault (34)
22/7 Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis)
23/7 Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) - Var (83)
23/7 False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi)
23/7 Dusky Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lycaon)
23/7 Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus)
23/7 Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis)
23/7 Grayling (Hipparchia semele)
23/7 Striped Grayling (Pseudotergumia fidia)
23/7 Furry Blue (Agrodiaetus dolus)
1/8 Tree Grayling (Neohipparchia statilinus) - Vaucluse (84)
6/8 False Grayling (Arethusana arethusa)
7/8 Cardinal (Argynnis pandora)
8/8 Autumn Ringlet (Erebia neoridas)
February
4th. We've had a few days of extraordinarily mild weather. Beautiful blue sky and lovely sunshine. I had a couple of hours to while away with my younger son this afternoon as big brother was at footy. We went down into the woods to throw stones into a stream and although it felt very 'butterflyish' I didn't really think I'd get one so early. And there it was!!!!!! A beautiful Comma sunning itself on a wall. And another one further down the footpath! My previous earliest butterfly, also a Comma, was last year on 28th February!! Several Humming-bird Hawk-moths around.
25th. The miracle weather of early February cooled off as expected and now we're going through a cold patch. Today was absolutely beautiful and well worth the afternoon walk on the south side of the valley down the stony footpath amongst the leafless trees down to the gushing waterfall in the stream below. The underlying temperatures were too low to bring out any butterflies but the direct sunshine was quite warm and one felt there just might be one somewhere braving a little sunbath. The ten day forecast is not good so it's not looking like the season will kick off early in earnest like it did last year.
March
3rd. The wind has died down but still a cool breeze. With afternoon temperatures approaching 10° and strong, warm sunlight I picked up a couple of Small Tortoiseshells. Here's one. Also a Red Admiral. Lovely to see a couple of butterflies.
14th. Glorious sunshine brought out a few hibernators though only in special woodland habitat, nothing around gardens etc. Commas (including this one), a Small Tortoiseshell and a couple of larger vanessids whizzed past but couldn't identify them. Contrarily male Brimstone (yes!!) was very conspicuous as he waltzed through the woods some distance from where I was standing. Maybe 2004 will be my Brimstone year? The woodland floor nicely decorated with hollow-root.
15th. Comma and Small Tortoiseshell.
16th. I tried a new site this morning which looks a super place. A large south facing meadow, plenty of blackthorn and bramble and woodland with a stream alongside. Species constant with yesterday......a few Commas making use of the spring flowers for nectaring and a single Small Tortoiseshell.
17th. Picked out another new site around 500m and on the way there saw a white butterfly from the car. 'Chrysalis' species are out! On arrival at the site Commas were the first to show and then this rather weary Holly Blue which must have been fresh out and not quite with it yet! Then a single Small Tortoiseshell. Later a Green-veined White turned up and was enjoying the red dead-nettle flowers until it was hassled by a somewhat larger white butterfly which turned out to be a male brassicae. I'm not used to getting Large White this early and it's the first time I've had it before rapae. Weather should be fine again tomorrow but then turning cooler again for a while.
18th. Two Peacocks and an early Queen of Spain Fritillary. Apparently this one can overwinter as an adult although today's individual looked remarkably fresh. Also a Comma.
28th. Fine spring day with several species though most seen singly or in small numbers. First Speckled Wood of the season, then the beautiful and unmistakeable male Orange Tip flew through. Male Green-veined White and splendid male Brimstone waltzing along the rides stopping only occasionally to nectar on hollow-root. Peacock and Red Admiral dogfighting, Commas and Small Tortoiseshells. An odd male Small White showing typically pale springtime markings and one blue butterfly buzzed through over head height....presumably argiolus but no proof! On the way back to the car a Painted Lady was sunbathing in the footpath....that's about three weeks earlier than I've ever had that one. Nice afternoon.
31st. Small White and Queen of Spain Fritillary during some brief late afternoon sun.
April
5th. Several small, white butterflies around the field margins close to work. One settled, a male rapae. Also first Small Copper of the season. Always a pretty, little butterfly, this one already had the hindwing quite pecked off! April weather a very mixed package and not easy to find convenient sunny spells up to now.
11th-12th. A couple of days in Provence visiting family. On the Sunday in urban, village situations I found both Geranium Bronze and Nettle-tree Butterfly as well as Wall Brown, Small Copper, Orange Tip and Large White. The weather was basically good and mostly sunny though during my six hour walk on Easter Monday it was cloudy for at least 80% of the time! Such is life! Nonetheless even prolonged cloud pays dividends as when the sun popped out I picked up my first life-tick of the season......Baton Blue! Orange Tip the only really visible species plus a couple of Painted Ladies. Then in late afternoon this Western Dappled White turned up which was nice. On the whole I found the flora to be surprisingly late in development and in no way did the late spring seem more advanced in Provence than back home in Lyon. A.euphenoides was conspicuous by its absence and I wasn't able to confirm Cleopatra either.....certainly no males.....both these species were fairly abundant in similar habitat in late April last year.
13th. Sunny though a difficult, cool wind. Numerous male Holly blues at damp ground and several male Orange Tips. One each of Speckled Wood, Small White and Small Copper. First Clouded Yellow of the season and a couple of Small Tortoiseshells and Commas.
14th. Small and Large Whites, Orange Tip and Holly Blue with a rare occasion to photograph uppersides. Further up at 600m a couple of jostling Queen of Spain Fritillaries (as it was cloudy I sat for a while and watched this butterfly as it was resting wings open........staggeringly beautiful) and Speckled Woods.
15th. Nice female Orange Tip. Males also and Small and Large White males too. Commas sparring. Speckled Wood.
18th. Large White on aubretia in the butterfly garden first thing this morning, then cloud and rain returned.
21st. A most welcome beautiful hot spring day! Took a walk this p.m. up to 550m (here's a view of the Alps from where I was standing.) Many of the species already seen locally this year in flight except hibernators (just one Comma.) One Small Copper with the top half of both forewings completely missing but still flying! New for this year; this rather oddly coloured Dingy Skipper, several Mallow Skippers and Violet Fritillary.
25th. A day in the Drôme principally to search for Erebia epistygne though I didn't find that species. However, during the afternoon I did come across a very interesting species, a very rare and widely ranging migrant throughout the European and North African territory with the vernacular name of Matthew Rowlings! There seemed to be rather few butterflies about in general though totting up at the end of the day I find I've seen 25 species even so. Mostly quite widespread species which have emerged a little earlier than up in Lyon. A couple of Swallowtails were first up, then Small Heaths which showed in small numbers all day. Green Hairstreak here and there and a little colony of Grizzled Skippers in the morning. Occasional Wood Whites with their typical feeble flutter and lovely lemon coloured male Pale Clouded Yellows, very nice. The odd male Brimstone showed up, single Red Admiral, Peacock, Clouded Yellow, Western Dappled White, Scarce Swallowtail and numerous Orange Tips. A few Violet Fritillaries, one very busy male Sooty Copper, occasional Small and Large Whites and Small Coppers. One or two Wall Browns, Mallow Skipper and several Dingy Skippers including this couple. Then came the day's big event with the discovery of several Black-eyed Blues and cousin Green-underside Blue was flying alongside. Exciting moments as the odd Large Tortoiseshell came into play, always a treasure. We saw one several times and they were looking tired though seemed candidates for being resident here rather than passing migrants. Last species up was Bath White (courtesy of Matt who also has the astonishing capacity of being able to identify this species in flight amongst half-a-dozen other white species!) This one had a quite extensive dark green area on the under hindwing. An interesting experience and thrilled to bits with melanops and polychloros!
May
1st. Rain predicted, but mostly sun. Busy day but I managed to grab a quick half-hour before lunch. Any time spent looking for butterflies is time well spent, however short! And so it was! Species were looking fairly regular; Small and Large Whites, Small Copper, Orange Tip and nice Violet Fritillaries. Then just as I was gathering up the kids to go back to the car......whoosh!!!.....a huge Large Tortoiseshell shot out of the undergrowth! Lucky for me she (female I think) settled back in the vegetation for a picture before departing to treetops. Very special moments.
12th. Sorry about the lack of updates....computer broke down for 10 days and only just got it back! However, during much of this time spring weather has continued to be poor.....the Brown Argus from the 5th is still the only one I've seen and apart from Holly there are still no other blues on the wing. Since Monday 10th weather has perked up a great deal and things seem to be getting under way. An odd Glanville Fritillary showed up on Monday and on Tuesday morning I found a distinct colony of Violet Fritillaries buzzing over the vegetation in an abandoned orchard in the morning sun. Here's the list for Wednesday 12th......one Holly Blue, male Orange Tips, female Green-veined Whites (one very dusky), Large Whites, one each of Wood White and Scarce Swallowtail, Small Coppers, Sooty Coppers (this species emerging nicely now), the best colony of Map Butterfly I've ever encountered in a damp meadow choked with stingers... there must have been a couple of dozen flitting around and I kept checking them to see if there weren't some euphrosyne or selene in there (which of course there weren't!!), Speckled Wood, Mallow Skipper, Small Heaths and Wall Browns and single Clouded Yellow and Violet Fritillary.
13th. A couple of hours available this p.m. Weather a deal poorer than expected so I changed plans to lower altitude and shelter. A bit of lucky sun brought out a number of species in a quaint little woodland clearing and I was bowled over to discover a new site for Chequered Blue. Nice also to find my first local Grizzled Skippers of the season. Now here's a teaser for you.......how do you photograph the upperside and underside of a species at the same time with the wings fully open and fully closed simultaneously? Easy.....like this!
15th. First day of real heat today, things looking very dry all of a sudden! Knapweed Fritillary is out, instantly recognisable in flight in the flowery meadows by its superior size in relation to other Mellicta/Melitaea species. A couple of Brown Arguses about but blues still noticeably absent. Wood White popping up more regularly now.
16th. Sunny but windy. First local Pale Clouded Yellow for this year. Map, Glanville Fritillary and a nice Red Underwing Skipper. This skipper is supposed to be double brooded but I've never seen the second brood. Any thoughts?
19th. Hot and sunny. Butterflies remaining constant and most species in small quantities. Scarce Swallowtail (1), Clouded Yellow (1), a few each of Orange Tip, Large White, Small White and Green-veined White, Small Copper (plenty...it was the commonest species at the end of last season and is the commonest this spring too), Sooty Copper (a few males), Green Hairstreak (half a dozen), Peacock (1), Small Tortoiseshell (2 and a rare chance to photograph undersides), Painted Lady (2 or 3), Queen of Spain Fritillary (1), Glanville Fritillary (1), Violet Fritillary (half a dozen), Speckled Wood (1), a few each of Wall Brown and Small Heath, Mallow Skipper (occasional) and Dingy Skipper (3 or 4). Absolutely no blues at all and I looked for Large Wall unsuccessfully.
21st. Fifteen minutes on my way into work. Sooty Copper and Brown Argus and then absolute joy to find a male Brimstone. That's three locally this year now which is very good. Joy turned to ecstasy with a male Southern Small White, more than six weeks later than my first male mannii at the same site last year. Also a Mallow Skipper.
23rd. Trip up to the Massif du Pilat (1400m) in the Loire to see if anything was flying. Blue sky and sunshine were not able to compensate for a tough, cold north wind which prevented any possible butterflies from showing. On the way back to the car however something whizzed past, a Small Tortoiseshell I think. I noticed an odd Orange Tip on the way back home. The wind had picked up at home too.....very difficult butterflying in these very windy conditions.
24th. Suddenly all is bursting forth!! An hour very well spent from 3p.m. to 4p.m. Walking down the footpath I found Wall Brown, Speckled Wood and Large White. On arrival in the meadow at the bottom the place was buzzing with species, quite a delight after this tough spring. Sooty Copper, Small Copper and then the magnificent Black-veined White...I love this species as it glides across the meadows. Then unbelievably this became my third site for Chequered Blues! This time there were numerous males but still no females. All three sites fairly close together for this species. One Pyrgus but didn't get a good look. Next a gorgeous Southern White Admiral was flitting along the stream and resting on nettle leaves to bask. Stunningly beautiful. Common Blue is finally out, saw both sexes with plenty of blue on the female. Brown Argus, Orange Tip still going, Violet and Knapweed Fritillaries and Small Heath. Then I noticed another butterfly flying a bit like the reducta but golly it was much larger. When I realised it was my first ever Camberwell Beauty I felt like shedding tears of joy. When you love butterflies there is so much emotion involved in coming across a species like this, especially when you get it on your doorstep. This one was sunning itself perched on vegetation right on the edge of the woods near the shade line. A precocious Large Skipper was next up, then Green Hairstreak, first Spotted Fritillary of the year (a male) and finally a Clouded Yellow. This hobby is seriously fantastic! (Despite the fact I got my ears battered by a freezing cold wind in the butterflyless wilderness yesterday!!!)
26th. The meadow species are now appearing more and more, notably blues are showing nicely. First ever Chapman's Blue for this area just a single male, Violet, Glanville, Knapweed, Spotted, Queen of Spain and now Meadow Fritillary too. Several Common and Mazarine Blues, Oberthür's Skipper now flying with the Mallow and Dingy Skippers. Amazing numbers of Sooty Copper and several Small Coppers. Painted Lady, Brown Argus, Large White, Green-veined White, one Orange Tip, Wall Brown, Small Heath and in the woody margins Map Butterfly, Green Hairstreak and Speckled Wood.
29th & 30th. My folks are spending a week in the Massif des Bauges so we went to spend the weekend there and found a very picturesque setting in the mountains. The house was around 700m/800m I guess and there were impressive 2000m peaks in the vicinity with a little snow left on them. Haymaking had reduced many meadows to nil, but in those that were still up there was an abundance of Small Heaths, Pale Clouded Yellow and Glanville Fritillary. Around the house I saw Scarce Swallowtail, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White and Brimstone including this female. At the end of the lane was a little patch of kidney vetch and I disturbed a single, tiny Small Blue there which settled briefly before disappearing into a neighbour's garden. Later there were Sooty Coppers too. On the Sunday we went to stretch our legs near some lakes in the valley. Swallowtail was there and then I was spoilt rotten with another Camberwell Beauty! That's two in a week! Absolutely huge this one. Finally a colony of Erebia started showing and they were very busy in the sunlight, hardly settling. I managed some photos when it clouded in later on and I eventually identified them as Woodland Ringlets. It would certainly be worth devoting a day trip to this site just to look for butterflies I think.
June
2nd. A lucky patch of blue sky was sitting over the area though really it was quite windy and cloudy and I could see that the Massif Central and the Alps looked enshrouded in cloud. The sun tried its best and several species showed including nice Black-veined Whites and Southern White Admiral which is always a joy to watch. First Heath Fritillary of the season logically looking fresh, in contrast to my first alcetas which looked like it'd been on the wing for a while. I guess the spring brood's more or less passed me by this year........Also saw some absolutely fresh and colourful Small Tortoiseshells.
6th. Trip up to the vast deciduous forests of the Côte d'Or where I found the clearings to be on very calcareous terrain. Species as follows: Dingy Skipper (1), Red Underwing Skipper (1), Grizzled Skipper (2 or 3), Wood White (1), Black-veined White (regular), Green-veined White (1), Orange Tip (2 or 3), Pale Clouded Yellow (common....with the abundance of Hippocrepis comosa here one can't rule out Berger's.......), Brimstone (several), Duke of Burgundy (half a dozen looking quite faded), Green Hairstreak (a couple including this very tired one), Holly Blue (this tired female with wings open), Small Blue (one probable...tiny thing anyway!), Common Blue (a few), Adonis Blue (common), Pearly Heath (several), Small Heath (regular), Woodland Ringlet (common), this might be a Dark Green Fritillary?? (comments welcome), Pearl-bordered Fritillary (common), Southern White Admiral (2), Glanville Fritillary (2 or 3), False Heath Fritillary (2), Spotted Fritillary (2), Meadow Fritillary (2), Scarce Fritillary (a single butterfly seen briefly...very special moments), Marsh Fritillary (2 tired adults.) A very interesting afternoon with four species for the first time ever (euphrosyne, lucina, arcania, maturna)............a day to remember!!!
9th. Popped up to the Jura for a couple of hours with the boys. Beautiful scenery in this part of France fairly dominated by the backdrop of the tree-covered Jura mountains. Found a rich species diversity in a wetland habitat looking quite dry in the early summer period. The high points were two new species for me, Chequered Skipper and especially Chestnut Heath as I'm a big heath fan! Quite a hot afternoon and numerous fritillaries wre very active and rarely settled. There was a good colony of Marsh Fritillaries though and False Heath Fritillary. Similarly several Erebia butterflies never settled but I suspect they were medusa being at 600m altitude in this situation. Also a couple of nice Duke of Burgundies and plenty of Black-veined Whites, a species doing well this year I feel.
10th. The faithful Meadow Brown is out! A little later than usual. Finished work at 14.30, picked up younger son at 15.00, drove to a nice site, boots on, son on shoulders and its 15.30. We had 30 minutes before it was time to get big brother. So often these little visits turn up trumps. Descending into the clearing we walked straight into three Black Hairstreaks! Gobsmacked. I was so excited I almost failed to notice that female Chequered Blue and male Large Copper were flitting around close by! There seemed to be endless numbers of skippers buzzing hither and thither but you don't study those when you've got 20 kilos on your shoulders and an eyeful of S.pruni! There were butterflies everywhere and I noticed a nice Limenitis, probably reducta. How wonderful it is to feel a part of all this natural beauty......
13th. Cloudy over the hills, sun over the plains, very windy. A gentle family walk after lunch produced mostly Meadow Browns in abundance. It was nice to pick up an odd Sloe Hairstreak which perched well up in the bushes after an erratic dash. This is similar to S.pruni from 10th but is smaller and greyer. Also you can find it in fairly open places as long as there's some blackthorn hedgerow.....pruni appears to require significant woodland. Both are laying on Prunus spinosa. Here's a Scarce Swallowtail. Essex Skipper in the garden.
14th. Still a coldish wind in the morning and some cloud. Difficult conditions for doing a new site so decided to go and dig around for Piedmont Ringlet. Here I am at 800m looking across to the Massif du Pilat in the Loire and you can see there was some pretty grotty weather hanging over the Massif Central. Anyhow I soon picked up this meolans. Much less red on them this year. Wandering down to the next clearing it became apparent the colony was thriving. I must have seen at least 40. But only noticed one with that telling little displaced eyespot on the upper forewing. Flying with them was a nice colony of Heath Fritillary.
15th. Found a new site for E.meolans in the 600m/750m range where the butterfly was abundant. Also nice to find my first local E.crameri for this season...have never found the first brood here, always May/June with quite large adults and pale apex markings. A little colony of Idas Blue too....here's a male.
16th. Marbled White in the garden. There's something magical about getting your first one of these each year. Strangely enough that's three times in the last four years I've seen my first galathea of the season on 16th June! Last year earlier of course with it being so hot.
17th. Probably deprived a fish of its dinner but I couldn't stop myself from rescuing a Knapweed Fritillary from drowning in a lake.....I came to its aid with a long stick. It looked a bit tatty afterwards but will probably live. Now, this False Heath Fritillary was behaving peculiarly. It was flying apparently normally but instead of landing periodically it was dropping into the grass like a lead brick, rather like a kestrel plummeting down to seize a mouse. After close inspection I concluded it may be wet (heavy) aswell though there is evidence of wing damage in the anal angle which might have been upsetting balance. Also some pictures of a female Southern Small White.
20th. Mostly cloudy but butterflies flew in the brief sunny spells. A whole pile of freshly emerged Small Whites were on the wing, here's a female and here's one that a spider is having for dinner! Also the hugest colony of Heath Fritillary I've ever come across in a woodland ride. Such a joy to see butterflies in abundance. Nice to get a couple of Sloe Hairstreaks.
21st. Heath Fritillaries abundant again this morning in some very dry oak woodland frequented also by Piedmont Ringlets. A few Essex Skippers and just this one male Small Skipper. Rather brown on the underside of the antennae but far from the jet black of the lineola with which it was flying. Also the sex brand on sylvestris is a giveaway.
24th. Back at the pruni/dispar site from 10th though neither of those were flying and no crataegi either so probably over now. Overcast but warm and seemingly perfect for the butterflies which were pleasantly numerous. Found this lot: Large White (2 females), Small White (1 female), Green-veined White (1 male..now in summer livery with discrete green veins uns), Sloe Hairstreak ( 2 or 3), Ilex Hairstreak (2 or 3), Holly Blue (2nd brood males), Chequered Blue (1), Painted Lady (1 small one), White Admiral (1), Comma (2), Silver-washed Fritillary (2 males), Marbled Fritillary (at least 3), Queen of Spain Fritillary (a few), Heath Fritillary (everywhere), Spotted Fritillary (1 female), Marbled White (several), Meadow Brown (plenty), Small Heath (a few), Speckled Wood (a couple in the shady areas), Grizzled Skipper (1), Lulworth Skipper (the first time I've discovered a serious colony with several individuals), Essex Skipper (numerous), Large Skipper (a few).......and spiders at work again!
30th. Picked up just an odd Ringlet which is late out this year. Also nice were a few Sloe Hairstreaks, Marbled Fritillary and several Small Skippers which now seem commoner than Essex which had been dominating.
July
2nd. Here's a nice one of second brood Dingy Skipper.
3rd. Walked up into the hills with my mother who usually brings good luck on butterfly walks.....and so it was!! Clouds of Marbled Whites and Meadow Browns were joined by a mixed bag of Essex and Small Skippers. Then we found this herd of Black-veined Whites which is interesting as they seem well over now at other nearby sites. Surprisingly down in the grass with all these we picked up this Black Hairstreak with fading ground colour but still vivid orange and black markings. Further along the path amazingly a Large Tortoiseshell came down and settled on my mother's arm with wings spread open!!!!! Couldn't get a pic before it flew but here's a quickie of its underside. Loads of Heath Fritillaries, Queen of Spain, Violet, Marbled and lo and behold a life-time first Small Pearl-bordered!! Also a male Idas Blue and later on this beautifully coloured Painted Lady.
4th. Trip into wetlands of the Ain though in fact they were pretty dry and on the whole inaccessible with very dense expanses of 8 feet tall reed beds! However there were butterflies in the surrounding woodland clearings. Plenty of summer Maps and the odd occasional Lesser Purple Emperor alternating between the ground and the tree tops but generally quite hard to observe for long moments. This one in the trees was clytie though nominate form was there too. One Pearly Heath with a very thick, cream stripe but ocelli rather under developed. The whole area was heaving with meadowsweet so not surprising to find several Lesser Marbled Fritillaries which were flying with cousin Marbled Fritillary. One or two Silver-washed Frits too. Plenty of Large Skippers here and nice to pick up an odd Purple Hairstreak on the woodland floor.
10th. Weather gradually picking up after the recent storms. Today's highlights were several Silver-washed Fritillaries with the females showing nice reddy-brown underside ground colour, a Violet Fritillary which spent 15 minutes feeding on my arm.....I had to transfer it to a knapweed or it would have stayed the night I think (!), a couple of Lulworth Skippers, Sloe Hairstreak hanging on, Marbled Fritillary, first Large Blue for this year and probably a female as quite dusky in flight, Provençal Short-tailed Blue.
17th. Travelled to the Spanish Pyrenees to spend a few days with the renowned rhopalexpert Guy Padfield. Stopped off on the way near Montpellier and found numerous Great Banded Graylings flying just off the motorway. On arrival in the Pyrenees mid-afternoon a few species flying near the campsite including first Dark Green Fritillary of the season, Map and Lulworth Skipper.
18th to 21st. Four full days in the superb upland surroundings of the Pyrenees. Some rain every day, but sufficient sun aswell to bring out over 80 species. Marbled White, Large Wall Brown, Small White, Meadow Brown, Piedmont Ringlet (E.m.bejarensis) underside and upperside, Small Skipper, Apollo, Black-veined White, Great Sooty Satyr, Small Copper, Lesser Marbled Fritillary (very common), False Heath Fritillary (certainly nominate form was present and probably subspecies vernetensis too though I'm not confident at committing myself to identifying those......if they're occurring together presumably they're different species??), Grizzled Skipper, Painted Lady, Red Underwing Skipper, Essex Skipper, Violet Fritillary, Dark Green Fritillary, Scarce Copper (here's the underside, male ups and female ups), Pearly Heath, Heath Fritillary, Wood White, Large Skipper, Purple-edged Copper, Meadow Fritillary, Adonis Blue, Spotted Fritillary, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Orange Tip (nice to get that so late), Mountain Argus, Brown Argus, Mazarine Blue, Escher's Blue, Amanda's Blue, Dingy Skipper, Provence Orange Tip (again a pleasure to see this so late), Yellow-spotted Ringlet (ssp. constans), Queen of Spain Fritillary, Baton Blue, Large Blue (without the cell spot), Glanville Fritillary, Purple-shot Copper (smashing!), Chequered Skipper, Niobe Fritillary, Spanish Brassy Ringlet (one of several nice Erebia species encountered), Geranium Argus, Common Blue, Large Ringlet, Red Admiral, Wall Brown, Great Banded Grayling, Green-veined White, Small Blue (as many as 100 individuals in just a few small metres of alpine grassland), Purple Hairstreak, Long-tailed Blue, Ringlet, Marbled Fritillary, White Admiral, Brimstone, Silver-washed Fritillary, Purple Emperor (mind blowing!!), Small Tortoiseshell, Chalk-hill Blue, Clouded Yellow, Comma, Mallow Skipper, Marbled Skipper, Lulworth Skipper, Sloe Hairstreak, Ilex Hairstreak, Large Grizzled Skipper (ssp.centralhispaniae.....sorry no pics), Silver-studded Blue, Bath White (looking very tired indeed, here's a male and a female), Eros Blue, Olive Skipper (all opinions invited), Mountain Clouded Yellow, Idas Blue, Small Heath (not until day three!), Marsh Fritillary, Sooty Copper, Turquoise Blue (fantastic specimen), Mountain Ringlet, Pale Clouded Yellow, Provençal Fritillary (I didn't manage to photograph this but you can see Guy's picture of the insect here), Map, Speckled Wood, High Brown Fritillary (which continues to be a species I encounter very little), Gatekeeper (first one rather late this year and before getting it back home where it's common), Large White (long time coming!), Tufted Marbled Skipper, Bright-eyed Ringlet, De Prunner's Ringlet, Lefèbvre's Ringlet (the dream topping on an excellent Erebia day which ended on a very possible sighting of Erebia sthennyo but which a strong wind blew out of range and storm clouds moved in before we had time for a proper look. Will have to go back another day!!)
22nd. On the way out of the Pyrenees we took a brief stop and picked up a Woodland Grayling which was living dangerously always settling in the middle of the road. Also here was a nice Large Tortoiseshell. Working our way back through France we stopped for a break south of Montpellier where we picked up Southern Gatekeeper and Iberian Marbled White.
23rd. We met up with Roger Gibbons who very kindly showed us some interesting areas in the Var in Provence. Blisteringly hot sun and plenty of butterflies. We encountered these species: Geranium Bronze, Meadow Brown, Great Banded Grayling, Southern White Admiral (this species was extraordinarily abundant which surprised me as I've only ever seen it previously in one's and two's), Scarce Swallowtail, Cleopatra, Woodland Grayling (fairly abundant), Holly Blue, Purple Hairstreak, Silver-washed Fritillary (with many females of the form valezina which simply weren't interested in settling), Southern Small White, Small White, Nettle-tree Butterfly (first time for me in the summer), Pearly Heath, False Ilex Hairstreak, Spotted Fritillary (all rather small individuals), Dusky Meadow Brown, Wood White, Dusky Heath, Brown Argus, Bath White, Escher's Blue, Large White, Berger's Clouded Yellow, Chalk-hill Blue, Wall Brown, Lulworth Skipper, Common Blue, Chapman's Blue, Grayling (a species which I adore but have seen very little and only in southern France), Speckled Wood, Striped Grayling, Furry Blue.
August
28th July to 8th August. Camping in the Vaucluse. The campsite itself was situated on a rather featureless plain and there were hardly any butterflies there. These species all in very small numbers....Scarce Swallowtail, Large White, Purple Hairstreak (saved from drowning in the swimming pool by my son!), Common Blue, Southern White Admiral, Great Banded Grayling and Meadow Brown. Moving just off the site to hedgerows I found Brown Argus, Spotted Fritillary, Mallow Skipper and Southern Gatekeeper. Visiting neighbouring village areas brought more species....Swallowtail, Small White, Bath White, Cleopatra, Small Copper, Geranium Bronze, Chapman's Blue, Chalk-hill Blue, Adonis Blue, Silver-washed Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary, Queen of Spain Fritillary, Tree Grayling, Striped Grayling, Small Heath, Wall Brown. A visit up to over 1000m produced a good colony of False Graylings, Clouded Yellow, Berger's Clouded Yellow (intensely coloured male), Marbled White, a female Dusky Meadow Brown and many Gatekeepers which was interesting as down below I only found Southern Gatekeepers which were absent further up. On the final Saturday I found a Cardinal making the most of some buddleia bushes. On the Sunday we made our way home over the hilltops and stopped to picnic at about 1100m. Here I found Sooty Copper, Woodland Grayling, Large Skipper, Autumn Ringlet and Great Sooty Satyr (here's a female and a male).
13th. Back at home, a new walk up a sunny hillside brought my first ever local Tree Graylings which was tremendously exciting. Also, in some slightly bushier grassland just a little further up were some False Graylings...here's an interesting one with a well developed eyespot on the hindwing.
15th. Plenty of activity in the garden including Great Banded Grayling and Long-tailed Blue.
26th. August weather has been well below average. Today a little better with Southern White Admiral, Great Banded Grayling and several Silver-washed Fritillaries.
29th. Popped down to the Rhône valley, part of my local patch which I've rarely dabbled with for the moment as there is so much development along the river at this stage of its course. However, there are some nice woodland margins and although I saw few butterflies today I was blessed with a Lesser Purple Emperor! Here's his underside and here's the upperside, just a quick shot as he flicked his wings open briefly. Thanks to my 6-year-old son for spotting that one!
September
8th. Discovered a new colony of Plebejus. Some difficulty in deciding between idas and argus on a couple of individuals but this male sealed it for me. Also L.reducta, A.paphia (very worn), C.alceae, C.dia.
13th. First local sighting of Bath White. L.reducta, P.armoricanus, E.alcetas and nice to see a Peacock.
October
3rd. Southern Small White, probable female Bath White in flight, lots of Wall Browns, Speckled Woods and Clouded Yellows, Small Heath, Small Copper, Common Blue, Queen of Spain Fritillary, Large White and generally plenty of smaller white butterflies flying but rarely still.
13th. These species still flying today: Large White, Small White, Clouded Yellow, Small Copper, Sooty Copper, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Queen of Spain Fritillary, Small Heath, Speckled Wood, Wall Brown.
21st. Several days of rain have finally given way to some warm sunshine. This morning I picked up a number of Small Whites (generally females), plenty of Clouded Yellows, Wall Browns (here's a female), Speckled Woods, Small Coppers and Queen of Spain Fritillaries.
24th. Still sunny but a tricky wind. Large White the commonest white today, Small Whites in places and one female Green-veined. Clouded Yellows on form as usual for the autumn. Wall Brown very good today and Speckled Wood in the bushier places. One each of Small Heath, Comma and Queen of Spain. Three Red Admirals and two Small Coppers.
